Tubing sleeve valve



,' Aug. 20, 1963 B. EILERS ETAL 3,101,095

I TUBING SLEEVE VALVE 7 Filed Aug. 11. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 dob/7 fle/enb e/j INVENTORJ ZMfM K ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,101,095 TUBING SLEEVE VALVE Barney A. Eilers, Houston, and John Helenberg, La Porte, Tern, assignors to ACE Industries, Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Aug. 11, 1960, Ser. No. 4%?26 4 Claims. (Cl. 137594) This invention relates generally to valves and more particularly to a fabricated multiple valve assembly for use in the completion of multiple zone wells in which production is flowed from the several zones through separate, side by side tubing strings.

In recent years it has been found possible, in producing minerals such as oil or gas, to produce from several production strata through individual tubing strings inserted in a common hole. One of the aspects which makes multiple completion attractive to production companies is the economies which result from several wells being completed from a single drilled hole. While initially the size of the hole was such that the tubing strings were spaced sufficiently distant to permit the installation of two, in

Patented Aug. 20, 1963 ice ond set of passages which are parallel with the regular inlet and outlet passages. The uncontrolled tubing string extends through the auxiliary chamber and is welded to the housing around the passages of the auxiliary chamber thereby incorporating the uncontrolled tubing string into the valve unit. Accordingly, the uncontrolled tubing string can be positioned adjacent the valve mechanism without the necessity of having an intervening wall'in between which results in having closer spacing than has hereto been available. The invention can also be used for triple completions. In such case, the auxiliary chamber is provided with two sets of passages to accommodate the two uncontrolled tubing strings. For quadruple coinpletions, there will be three sets of passages to accommodate three uncontrolled tubing strings. Since there is no intervening wall between the valve mechanism and the uncontrolled tubing strings, very close spacing of the tubing strings is facilitated which permits utilization of small diameter holes. Moreover, the construction is such that the spacing of the uncontrolled tubing string in relation to the valve can be varied within reasonable limits permitting manufacturers to stock semi-finished items which bodies is usually cast which is thicker than wrought ma-.

terial, the valve body is of considerably greater size than the tubing. As the size of the hole was decreased and the tubing strings were moved closer together, the distance between the tubing strings was so decreased that there was no longer sufficient space to properly install two separate sets of wellhead valves. In order to overcome this situation, the side of the valve body opposing the uncontrolled tubing was recessed which permitted closer spacing of the tubing strings. While this was a temporary expedient, the spacing required to install the recessed construction was still larger than the spacing desired by the production companies. Moreover; the recessing of the Wall of a cast valve housing was undesirable since such construction required tolerances which were difiicult for foundries to satisfactorily maintain. Another attack of the problem has been the use of integral-Christmas trees such as disclosed in Penick et al. United States Patent 2,335,355. However, integral Christmas tree assemblies because of their intricacies and the small number involved are rather expensive to produce. Also, in the production of Wellhead equipment, particularly for multiple completions, fastavailability is an important factor. Since there are no set standards on the spacing of tubings, it is difficult for manufacturers to keep a complete stock on hand. Although efforts have been made to standardize spacing, numerous spacings, too great for manufacturers to completely stock, still exist. Since one of the principal advantages of multiple completion is the economies resulting from such practice, it is desirable that wellhead equipment he so designed that it can be expediently and economically produced.

, The present invention involves a fabricated multiple valve assembly for wellhead service which permits very close spacing of the tubing strings and which can be economically produced. The individual valves have in addition to the customary valve chamber an auxiliary or second chamber which is coextensive with the regular valve chamber. The auxiliary chamber is provided with a seccan be expediently fabricated on order.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fabricated multiple valve assembly for wellhead service in which there is no intervening wall between the working parts of the valve and the adjacent uncontrolled tubing string.

It is another object to provide a fabricated multiple valve assembly for wellhead service in which there are master valve'units having an auxiliary chamber through which the uncontrolled tubing string extends.

It is a further object to provide a fabricated multiple valve assembly for wellhead service which may be economically manufactured.

It is a further object to provide a fabricated multiple valve'assernbly for wellhead service in which the separate valve housings incorporate the uncontrolled tubing string or tubing strings Without having intervening walls between the valve and tubing strings.

Other and further objects of the invention will be FIG. 2 is a sectional view through one of the master valve units taken generally on lines 22 of FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the valve shown in FIG. 2 taken at to such view.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a valve unit adapted for triple completion.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a valve unit adapted for quadruple completion.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that FIG. 1 illustrates a fabricated multiple valve assembly for use in the completion of a dual zone well. The fabricated multiple valve assembly is comprised of-master valves A, wing valves B, two strings of tubing C-C, and to permit attachment of the fabricated valve assembly to a tubing head (not shown), there is a bottom flange D. Since the illustrated assembly is for the controlling of two wells, there are, in effect, two independent Christmas trees whereby flow from one well never comingles or mixes with the flow from the other well. Each well is controlled independently and separately by its own master valves A and flows out through its own wing valve B. Following the established practice for high pressure wells, there are two master valves A for each well. Naturally if desired, there need be only one master valve A for each separate tubing string C if so desired. While FIG. 1 covers a fabricated valve assembly for dual cornpletion, the invention can also be applied to a fabricated valve assembly for use in completing triple zone wells. An example of a valve unit according to the teachings of the present invention adapted for triple completions is shown in FlG. 4. As can be seen there are two uncontrolled strings of tubing E extending through the master valve unit F. It is also possible to use the invention for fabricated valve assemblies for quadruple completions wherein there will be three strings of uncontrolled tubing G extending through each master valve unit H, see FIG. 7.

As mentioned in the introduction, the multiple completion or oil wells is not new and is not part of this invention. The departure from past practice is that in the fabricated assemblies illustrated the uncontrolled tubing string passes through an auxiliary chamber in the valve housing and there is no intervening wall between the valve mechanism and such tubing string thereby permitting closer spacing of the tubing strings.

In order to see this, attention is directed to FIGS. 2 and 3 wherein there are shown cross-sectional views of one of the master valves A. The valve has a valve housing which is provided with an inlet passage 12 and outlet passage 14. interposed between the inlet and outlet passages 12 and 14 there is a valve chamber 16. Surrounding the valve chamber end of the inlet and outlet passages are annular pockets in which are positioned valve seats 18. Valve mechanism 2% is positioned in valve chamber 16 to either prohibit'or permit flow through the valve. The valve member 20 shown is a through conduit gate which has a portion having a passage 22 which in the open position is aligned with the inlet and outlet'passages 12 and 14 and a solid portion which in the closed position cooperates with the seats 18 toblock flow. As is customary, the valve chamber 16 is closed by a bonnet 24 to make the housing'in effect a pressure vessel, and the valve mechanism 29 is provided with a stem 26 which extends through the bonnet 24 providing means to operate the valve mechanism Zil'. To provide means to incorporate the valve A into a fabricated assembly, the outer ends of inlet and outlet passages 12 and 14 are provided with annular pockets 34 into which ends of the controlled tubing strings C can be positions. The uncontrolled tubing string C is then welded to the housing 10. The structure thus far generally described may be varied according to the design of the particular valve to which the invention is being applied.

As previously stated, the present invention relates to incorporating the uncontrolled tubing into the valve unit without an intervening wall between the valve mechanism and the uncontrolled tubing. To accomplish this, one side of the housing 10* is provided with a bulge 28 which forms an auxiliary chamber 30 coextensive with the valve chamber 16. The auxiliary chamber 30- is provided with openings 32 which are aligned parallel with the inlet and outlet passages 12-14. The uncontrolled tubing string C' passes uninterrupted through the openings 32 of the auxiliary chamber 3%. As can be seen there is no intervening wall between the uncontrolled tubing string C and the valve member 21 The flow in the well which is not being controlled by the particular valve A flows uninterrupted through. the valve A. As we go up the tree to the next valve, see PEG. 1, the tubing string C which was previously not controlled will now be controlled by the valve A and the other tubing string C will be uncontrolled and will pass on through the auxiliary chamber 3% of that valve. After the tubing string C passes through the auxiliary chamber 36, it is seal welded in place around the openings 32; thereby in- 'vice versa.

corporating it into the valve A. As mentioned, tubing string C which is being controlled by the particular valve A is positioned in pocket 34 in the inlet passage 12 and is welded in position. On the outlet side of the valve A there is another pocket 34 which receives a portion of tubing string C which is also welded into place. With each tubing string being controlled by its independent valve and the uncontrolled string being incorporated into the valve of string being controlled, a fabricated assembly is produced which is a unitary structure having the spacing between the two tubing strings almost as close together as would be the case if no valve were present.

The auxiliary chamber 3b is of such a size so as to permit minor changes in center-to-center distance between the two tubing strings C-C and to permit tubing strings of difierent sizes to be used. For example, one string may be 2 and the other 2 /2". The uncontrolled 2 /2 tubing string can be accommodated by the 2 valve and Therefore, the same raw castings can be used to finish valves having a' number of different center-tocenter dimensions. This permits advance ordering of castings and finishing of the valve mechanism containing portion of the valve, storing such semi-finished structures and expediently finishing them to the exact requirements. The application of the invention to a triple completion is similar in that the master valve unit F has a valve housing 36 having a regular valve chamber 38 in which is housed the valve mechanism and an auxiliary chamber 40 through which the two uncontrolled tubing strings E can be passed, see FIG. 4. In a quadruple completion. the master valve unit H has a valve housing having an auxiliary chamber 42 through which three uncontrolled tubing strings G pass. In all cases, the tubing strings are welded to the housing thereby incorporating them into the assembly. As previously described, there is no inte vening wall between the valve mechanism and the uncontrolled tubing strings whereby closer spacing of the tubing strings is facilitated. Also, as with duals, unequal tubing-strings can be used with facility.

The Wing valve B shown in the fabricated valve assembly eliminates the use of the familiar T fitting. Wing valve B is shown on the top of FIG. 1. Instead of having the normal inlet passage, the wing valve B has a formation which establishes an auxiliary chamber 44 into which one of the tubing strings C can be welded. The auxiliary chamber 44 has a passage 46 communicating with the regular valve chamber containing the valve mechanism and forms a portion of the run of the valve. Utilizing an invention in this manner eliminates the separate T which normally leads from the main run of the tree to the wing valve.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangements of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A master. wellhead dual valve unit for" two parallel strings of tubing comprising a valve housing provided with an internal chamber, two sets of aligned openings communicating with said chamber, one set of aligned openings forming inlet and outlet ports, the outer end of each inlet and outlet port adapted to receive the end of a string of tubing, the inner ends of the inlet and outlet ports terminating in a pair of opposed annular seat pockets, an opening and valve mechanism sufiiciently to receive an uncontrolled string of tubing. 9

2. A master wellhead valve unit for at least two parallel strings of tubing comprising a valve housing provided with an internal chamber, at least two sets of aligned openings communicating with said chamber, one set of aligned openings forming inlet and outlet ports, an opening in said chamber the axis of which is normal to the axis of the inlet and outlet ports, a pair of opposed annular seat pockets in said chamber about the inlet and outlet ports, a pair of valve seats in said seat pockets, reciprocating valve mechanism in said chamber insertable through the opening and cooperating with said valve seats, bonnet means closing the opening, valve operating means attached to said valve mechanism and sealingly extending through said bonnet, the other sets of openings spaced from the .inlet and outlet ports and valve mechanism sufiiciently to receive uncontrolled strings of tubing.

3. A master wellhead valve unit for at least two parallel strings of tubing comprising a valve housing provided 20 6 operating with said inlet and outlet ports to control the How through the unit, bonnet means closing the opening, valve operating means attached to said valve mechanism, the other set of openings spaced from the inlet and outlet ports and valve mechanism sufiiciently to receive an uncontrolled string of tubing.

4. A valve unit for at least two strings of tubing comprising a valve housing provided with an internal chamber, a first pair of aligned openings forming inlet and outlet ports communicating with said chamber, valve mechanism in said chamber cooperating with the inlet and outlet ports, at least a second pair of aligned openings spaced from and parallel with said inlet and outlet ports communicating with said chamber and adapted to receive an uncontrolled string of tubing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 525,535 Conners Sept. 4, 1894 1,727,694 Beyer Sept. 10, 1929 2,311,177 Johnson Feb. 16, 1943 2,335,355 Penick Nov. 30, 1943 2,859,773 Wallace Nov. 11, 1958 2,885,005 Rhodes May 5, 1959 3,028,917 Rhodes Apr. 10, 1962 

1. A MASTER WELLHEAD DUAL VALVE UNIT FOR TWO PARALLEL STRINGS OF TUBING COMPRISING A VALVE HOUSING PROVIDED WITH AN INTERNAL CHAMBER, TWO SETS OF ALIGNED OPENINGS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CHAMBER, ONE SET OF ALIGNED OPENINGS FORMING INLET AND OUTLET PORTS, THE OUTER END OF EACH INLET AND OUTLET PORT ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE END OF A STRING OF TUBING, THE INNER ENDS OF THE INLET AND OUTLET PORTS TERMINATING IN A PAIR OF OPPOSED ANNULAR SEAT POCKETS, AN OPENING IN SAID CHAMBER THE AXIS OF WHICH IS NORMAL TO THE AXIS OF THE INLET AND OUTLET PORTS AND GENERALLY INTERSECTS THE AXIS OF THE INLET AND OUTLET PORTS, A PAIR OF VALVE SEATS IN SAID SEAT POCKETS, RECIPROCATING VALVE MECHANISM IN SAID CHAMBER INSERTABLE THROUGH THE OPENING AND COOPERATING WITH SAID VALVE SEATS, BONNET MEANS CLOSING THE OPENING, VALVE OPERATING MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID VALVE MECHANISM AND SEALINGLY EXTENDING THROUGH SAID BONNET, THE OTHER SET OF OPENINGS SPACED FROM THE INLET AND OUTLET PORTS 